Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Hawaii County election in the state spotlight, struggling UH athletics program seeks financial support, Thai workers protest trafficking dismissal, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2012 All Hawaii News
Election 'cans' await scrutiny at Hawaii County Clerk's Office (c) 2012 All Hawaii News
An emergency County Council meeting, election challenges and calls for an investigation are coming on the heels of Saturday’s primary election, when many Hawaii County polling places did not open on time. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Chief Elections Officer Scott Nago will meet with the state’s county clerks today in Hilo for a post-election briefing that will cover slip ups with the Big Island’s primary last Saturday. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County Council will hold a special meeting over voting problems that plagued the Big Island. Hawaii News Now.

The fallout from primary election delays on the Big Island continues to mount, from a Hawaii County Council hearing to a state election review and a likely Supreme Court challenge. KHON2.

State tries correcting primary election issues. KITV4.

Hawaii's U.S. Senate race is expected to draw lots of national money now that the primary is over as both Republicans fight to take over the Senate from Democrats. Civil Beat.

Before the Hawaii primary becomes a distant memory, there's a few newsworthy items to share that may have gotten lost in the haze of Saturday and Sunday. Civil Beat.

Something should be said about the careers of Democrats Ed Case and Mufi Hannemann. Both answered the bell this year after losing two years ago and not thinking enough about why they lost. Star-Advertiser.

FACT CHECK — Lingle: Hirono Missed 127 Votes In Congress This Year. Civil Beat.

Only 290,724 of Hawaii’s 687,500 registered voters, or 42.3 percent, cast ballots. Of those voters, 148,239 did so in a polling booth and 142,414 submitted absentee ballots.West Hawaii Today.

More than two dozen Thai farm laborers Monday signed a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder lamenting the dismissal of human trafficking charges against people accused of exploiting them. Associated Press.

Osprey Aircraft Expansion Causes Concern. Hawaii Public Radio.

State roundup for Aug. 14. Associated Press.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council Chairman Ernie Martin has removed Councilman Tom Berg from the Transportation Committee following a outburst during a July meeting. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Council Member Tom Berg will now face the music for an outburst a couple weeks ago that caused his colleagues to call police to city hall. Civil Beat.

The future of rail may have gotten even murkier following Hawaii’s primary election, with former Gov. Ben Cayetano getting 44 percent of the vote in the Honolulu mayor’s race and advancing to a runoff against second-place finisher Kirk Caldwell. Pacific Business News.

Despite polls showing the majority of the public opposed to the city’s rail project, and broad support for former Gov. Ben Cayetano’s mayoral candidacy, those voters failed him. Hawaii Reporter.

The police officer who pleaded guilty to federal marijuana possession and cultivation charges for running two indoor growing operations with his girlfriend is no longer an employee of the Honolulu Police Department. Star-Advertiser.

Work will begin soon on restoring portions of historic Kawaiaha‘o Church's 169-year-old wall that were heavily damaged April 2 when a city bus crashed into it. Star-Advertiser.

Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple said it "isn't realistic" to expect the financially struggling University of Hawaii athletic program to balance its books, and questioned whether the state is "willing to pay the price" to be successful. Star-Advertiser.

Senor Frog’s has closed its only Hawaii location, at the Royal Hawaiian Center in Waikiki. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

If former Mayor Harry Kim wants his old job back, he’s got to broaden his support beyond Puna. Tribune-Herald.

“It was a real squeaker, wasn’t it?” That’s how Russell Ruderman characterized his narrow victory over longtime state Rep. Bob Herkes to earn the Democratic nomination to represent Puna and Ka‘u in the state Senate. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Kahului was the single state House district Mufi Hannemann claimed in his losing bid to Tulsi Gabbard in Saturday's Democratic primary race for the 2nd Congressional District, according to a geographical analysis of voter results. Maui News.

Habitat for Humanity Maui is looking "up instead of out" with its new 16-unit condominium project in Happy Valley. Maui News.

Kauai
After a lengthy discussion, the county Board of Ethics on Friday unanimously found Kaua‘i County Councilmember KipuKai Kuali‘i does have a conflict of interest with regards to matters on the council’s agenda related to the Office of Prosecuting Attorney, Victims of Crime Act funding and appropriations to the Office of Economic Development. Garden Island.

The Board of Ethics on Friday morning shelved without action a request from the Kaua‘i County Council for an investigation of potential ethics violations associated with POHAKU, a diversion program offered by the county Office of Prosecuting Attorney. Garden Island.

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